Officials say the number of black lung cases is increasing, and it is even showing up in surface miners now. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is offering free black lung screenings in Eastern Kentucky in hopes of saving lives.

The Centers for Disease Control reports 2% of the surface miners tested have the disease. Officials say 46 of 2,257 surface miners had black lung with twelve having the most severe form. Most of them report they have never worked underground.